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<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000"><FONT SIZE=+3>Which Deed is the Best?</FONT></FONT></I></B></CENTER>

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&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#000000">All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of
the Worlds, and Peace and Blessings</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#000000">be upon His Trustworthy Messenger,
and upon all his Pure and</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#000000">Dignified Household and Companions.</FONT></I></B></CENTER>
&nbsp;
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<TD>Mankind yearns for success, accomplishment, prosperity and triumph.
Thus, those with spiritually clouded hearts, which are fettered to the
sensual gratifications of this worldly life relentlessly pursue their whims
and lusts with a view to attaining their desired goal of material fulfillment.
They are unmindful of their true purpose in life; without concern for the
Hereafter.&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Nay, their hearts are in confused
ignorance of this, and there are,&nbsp;</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">besides that, deeds of theirs which
they will [continue] to do.</FONT></I></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[23:63]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>Only those who acknowledge their Lord and who submit to Him <I>absolutely</I>
will constantly strive to seek out those deeds which are of maximum utility,
and most pleasing to the Creator.&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Blessed be He in whose Hand is dominion,
and He has power over&nbsp;</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">all things. He who created life and
death in order that He may try you</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">[as to] which of you is best in deed.
And He is the Mighty,&nbsp;</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">the Oft-Forgiving.</FONT></I></B>"</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[67:1-2]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>Then, having identified such deeds, they will prove their sincerity
by exerting themselves in the performance thereof.&nbsp;

<P>Considering that human lifespan is limited, it is evident that every
Muslim who is concerned with attaining the greatest possible benefits in
the Hereafter should ascertain which deeds are the <I>most</I> virtuous.
Yet, in times such as ours, such an individual is likely to be faced with
a confusing fray of ideas and opinions. These times fit well the description
by Shaykh Dahlawi, who noted that "<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">energies are
dwindled severely, souls are drenched in caprice, and each revels in his
own opinion.</FONT></I>"&nbsp;

<P>Thus, some <I>Sufis</I> maintain the greatest devotion is to remain
engaged in spiritual exercises for the sake of purification of the soul;
some academics will propose that seeking knowledge is the priority, while
propagators will maintain that spreading the message of Islam is the most
praiseworthy deed. Others view Jihad for the sake of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Subhannah
wa Ta'aala)</FONT></I> to be the most superior deed. In such a situation,
it becomes <I>obligatory</I> to refer the issue back to the Qur'an and
authentic Sunnah for judgement, in obedience to the order of Allah, the
<I>Exalted</I>, <I><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation of
the Meaning)</FONT></FONT></I>,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then, if you dispute concerning anything,
refer it to Allah and the&nbsp;</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Messenger [for judgement], if indeed
you believe in Allah and the Last Day.&nbsp;</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">That is best, and most suitable for
final determination.</FONT></I></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[4:59]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>

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<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+1>Ahadeeth: Which deed is
best?...</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>
Abu Hurayrah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(radiallaahu 'anhu) </FONT></I>has
reported that the Messenger of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam) </FONT></I>was asked, "<I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Which
deed is best?</FONT></I>" He said,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Belief in Allah and His Messenger.</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P>The man asked, "<I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then what [is the best after
that]?</FONT></I>" The Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee
wa sallam) </FONT></I>replied,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Jihad in the Path of Allah.</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P>The man said, again, "<I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then what [is the next
best]?</FONT></I>" He replied,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">An accepted hajj.</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Bukhari, vide Riyad as-Saliheen, # 1285]&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P>Ibn 'Allan comments on this hadeeth,&nbsp;

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">The Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam)
was asked - the questioner being Abu Dharr as [mentioned] in "at- Tawsheeh"
- '</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">which deed is best?</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">'
i.e. greatest in reward before Allah, the Exalted. He said, '</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Belief
in Allah and His Messenger</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">': It is
the deed of the heart, for it is affirmation of all that is necessarily
known to have been brought by the Messenger, and the oral expression of
[Faith] is a prerequisite for the application of ordinances [regarding
social relations]. 't was asked, '</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then what?'</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">
He said, '</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Jihad in the path of Allah.'</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'
...&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Perhaps this is with regard to the condition
of the questioner, and that on account of the domination of the disbelievers
at that time, performing [Jihad] was superior even to salaah, on account
of its involving the setting up of Islam. Thus, it does not negate the
hadeeth, "</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Your best deed is <I>salaah</I>;</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">"
nor the hadeeth of Ibn Mas`ud [who says],&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'I asked the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam),</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000"> </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">'</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">Which
deed is best?</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">' He replied, '</FONT><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Salaah</FONT></B></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">
at it's [proper] times.</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">' I asked, '</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then
which?</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">' He said, '</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then
kindness to parents.</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">' I said, '</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">Then
which?</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">' He (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam)
said, "</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Jihad in the Path of Allah.</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">''
The hadeeth is narrated by the Two Shaykhs <FONT SIZE=-1>[i.e. Bukhari
and Muslim]</FONT>.&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">The compiler [of Riyad as-Saliheen, i.e. Imam
Nawawi] said,&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'Here, [the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhee wa
sallam)] mentioned Jihad and hajj after faith, while in the hadeeth of
Abu Dharr, [he mentioned] freeing a slave in place of hajj. In the hadeeth
of Abu Musa, [he mentioned] safety [of others] from one's hand and tongue.
In the hadeeth of Ibn Mas`ud, [he mentioned] salaah, then kindness [to
parents], then Jihad. The scholars have said: The difference in the replies
is on account of the variation of the circumstances and the need of those
being addressed, [so that] he mentioned what the questioner did not know,
and left out what he knew.'</FONT></I>" <I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Daleel al-Faaliheen,
vol 4, p. 77]&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P>Nawawi <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(raheemahullaah)</FONT></I> discusses
the issue further in his commentary on Saheeh Muslim, where he says, after
mentioning the different narrations of the hadeeth as above,&nbsp;

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">And, it has been authenticated, in the hadeeth
of 'Uthmaan (radiallaahu 'anhu), '</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">The
best of you is he who teaches the Qur'an and learns it,</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'
and the like of these [ahadeeth] abound in the Saheeh. The scholars have
differed regarding [the manner of] reconciliation between [the reports].
It has been mentioned that the dignified Imam, Abu 'Abdillah Al-Haleemy
ash-Shafi'ee, reconciled them from two aspects&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Firstly, that the difference in reply was according
to the difference in situations and individuals, for one may say that such-and-such
is the best thing, without meaning it is the best out of everything in
all aspects and with regard to everyone in every circumstance. Rather [the
statement is intended] for a particular situation, and thus forth. He supported
this with [various] reports, among them that on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas
(radiallaahu 'anhu), that the Messenger of Allah (salallaahu 'alayhee wa
sallam) said, '</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Hajj for one who has
not performed hajj is better than forty battles, and a battle for one who
has not fought is better than forty hajj.</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'
Secondly, it is possible that what is meant [in the ahadeeth] is [that
all these deeds] are among the best deeds... and another example of this
is his saying (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam), '</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">The
best of you is [he who is] the best to his wives,</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'
where it is known that it is not referring to the best people in an absolute
sense...</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">According to this second consideration, Faith
is absolutely the best [deed], and the others are equal in their status
of being among the best deeds... and then the excellence of some of them
over others can be recognized by [other] evidences which indicate that...
The author of&nbsp; "At-Tahreer" [after dismissing this second argument,
said,]&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'The authentic [position] is that [the hadeeth
which mentions Jihad after Faith] is attributed to Jihad in the time of
advance of the army and a general call to arms, for at that time Jihad
is obligatory on everyone (i.e. Fard 'ayn), and if the situation is thus,
then Jihad is more worthy of encouragement and priority than Hajj, on account
of the general benefit for Muslims which Jihad entails.'</FONT></I>"<I><FONT SIZE=-1>
[Sharh Muslim, vol. 2, p. 77.]&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P>From the analysis of these distinguished scholars, we may infer the
following:&nbsp;

<P><B>1)</B> That the status of Jihad varies, and that it takes priority
over hajj in a time of a General Call to Arms (<I>i.e. When Jihad is Fard
'ayn</I>). Indeed, it takes priority over <I>all</I> other devotions; Shaykh
'Abdullah 'Azzaam said, in [his <I>Fatwa</I>]; '<I><FONT COLOR="#000000">Defense
of the Muslim Lands - the most important individual obligation,</FONT></I>'&nbsp;

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Qadi Ibn Rushd has reported agreement (of
the jurists) on the fact that when Jihad becomes individually obligatory
(Fard 'ayn), it is more important than going for the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage.
This is because when Jihad becomes Fard 'ayn, it is urgent, while the Hajj
may be performed at leisure.</FONT></I>"&nbsp;

<P>He also says,&nbsp;

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Ibn Taymeeyah says,</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'Considering the attacking enemy, who is corrupting
the Religion and the world, there is nothing more obligatory after Faith
than repelling him."<FONT SIZE=-1>[Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, vol. 4, p. 608.]</FONT>&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Thus, salaah is delayed and combined or its
rak'at reduced, or its form altered in the presence of Jihad. It is reported
in the Two Saheehs [that the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam) said],&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">"</FONT></I><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">May
Allah fill their graves with fire as they occupied us from&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">the Middle Prayer until the sun disappeared.</FONT></B><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">"&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">[As well] the mujaahid breaks his fast in Ramadhaan,
as has been narrated by Muslim.</FONT></I>"&nbsp;

<P><B>2) </B>That the ahadeeth in which the Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam) </FONT></I>was asked about the best deed do not produce
any <I>definitive</I> answer as to which deed is absolutely the <I>best</I>
after Faith. For our purposes, therefore, we must look to further evidence.
Every Muslim already possesses Faith, which is in fact a prerequisite for
the acceptance of any other good deed, and thus he is interested in what
deeds are best for him to do subsequent to his acceptance of Faith.&nbsp;
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<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+1>Explicit evidence establishing
that Jihad is the&nbsp;</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+1>highest ranked devotion</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>


<P>Ibn Katheer <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(raheemahullaah) </FONT></I>reports,&nbsp;

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Ibn 'Abbas said: 'People among the believers
used to say, before Jihad became obligatory, '</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">We
wish that Allah, the Mighty, the Majestic, would indicate to us the deeds
which are most beloved to Him, in order that we might do them!</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">'
Then, Allah (Ta'aala) informed them that, without any doubt, the deed most
beloved to Him is to believe in Him, and to wage Jihad against the disobedient
ones who have disputed faith and have not accepted it.&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Then, when [the obligation of] Jihad was revealed,
some Muslim people disliked it, and were grieved by its ordainment, and
so Allah, the Flawless, the Exalted, revealed,</FONT></I> <I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation
of the Meaning)</FONT></I>&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>'<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">O you who believe! Why do you say
that which you do not do?...</FONT></I></B>'&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Muqatil ibn Hayyan said,&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'So, Allah clarified to them [which is] the
deed most beloved to Him, saying, </FONT><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation of
the Meaning)</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">,</FONT></I>&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'</FONT><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Allah
loves those who fight in His Path, in ranks, as&nbsp;</FONT></B></I></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">if they were a cemented structure.</FONT></I></B>''<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">...</FONT></I>"&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Tafseer ibn Katheer, vol. 3, p. 491]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>On the authority of <I>Mu'aadh <FONT COLOR="#000099">(radiallaahu 'anhu)</FONT></I>:&nbsp;

<P><FONT COLOR="#000000">The Prophet</FONT><I><FONT COLOR="#990000"> </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam)</FONT></I><FONT COLOR="#000000"> said,&nbsp;</FONT>&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Shall I not inform you of the main part
of the matter, its column and its&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">apex?</FONT></B><FONT COLOR="#000000">"</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000"><B>
</B><I>Mu'aadh said, </I></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000">"</FONT><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Yes,
indeed [tell me]!</FONT></I><FONT COLOR="#000000">"</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000"><B>
</B><I>He </I></FONT><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">wa sallam)</FONT><FONT COLOR="#990000">
said,</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000"> </FONT></I><FONT COLOR="#000000">"</FONT><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">The
main part of it is Islam, its pillar is <I>salaah</I>,&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">and its <I>apex</I> is Jihad.</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Tirmidhi - a fair, authentic hadeeth, vide&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>Riyad as- Saliheen, vol. IV, p. 356 of&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>Daleel al-Faaliheen]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>The apex of something is the highest part of it, like the peak of the
camel's hump. This hadeeth therefore establishes that there is nothing
higher, overall, than Jihad. The next hadeeth is still more explicit:&nbsp;

<P>A man came to the Messenger of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam)</FONT></I> and said, "<I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Direct
me to a deed which is equivalent to Jihad.</FONT></I>" The Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam)</FONT></I> replied,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">I do not find [such a deed].</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P>Then, [he <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam) </FONT></I>went
on and] said,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Can you, when the <I>mujaahid</I> goes
out, enter your place of&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">prayer, stand [in prayer] without cessation,
and fast&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000"><I>without</I> breaking your fast?</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P>[The man] replied, "<I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Who is able to do that!</FONT></I>"
<I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Bukhari]&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P>On the authority of Abu Hurayrah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(radiallaahu
'anhu)</FONT></I>: The Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee
wa sallam)</FONT></I> said,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">The likeness of the <I>mujaahid</I> in
the Path of Allah - and Allah knows best as&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">to who is performing Jihad in His Path
- is the likeness of a perpetually&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">fasting and praying person who neither
breaks his fast nor ceases&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">giving charity, until he returns.</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Bukhari and Muslim, vide `Abdullah `Azzam,&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>"Ithaf al-`Ibaad fee Fadaa'il al-Jihaad", p. 80]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>

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<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#000099"><FONT SIZE=+1>Which is better: Dhikr,
or Jihad?</FONT></FONT></B></CENTER>


<P>The preceding discussion should have clarified many issues. Perhaps
the only remaining contention against Jihad being the <I>most</I> excellent
deed is the following hadeeth: On the authority of Abu Darda' <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(radiallaahu
'anhu)</FONT></I>: He said, the Messenger of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam)</FONT></I> said,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Shall I not inform you of the best of
your deeds, the purest of them before your&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Sovereign and the highest of them in rank,
which is better for you than spending gold and&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">silver [in charity], and better for you
than for you to encounter your enemy and strike their&nbsp;</FONT></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="#990000">necks?</FONT></B>" They [the <I>Sahaabah</I>
<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(radiallaahu 'anhum)</FONT></I>] said, "<I><FONT COLOR="#990000">Yes,
indeed!</FONT></I>" He <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'alayhee wa sallam) </FONT></I>said, "<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">Remembrance
of Allah, the <I>Exalted</I>.</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Tirmidhi, vide Riyad as Saliheen]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>Ibn 'Allan comments,&nbsp;

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">Ibn 'Abdus Salam said, in his "Qawa`id,"&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'This hadeeth indicates that reward is not
based on the proportion of exertion in all acts of devotion. Rather, Allah,
the Exalted, may reward [someone] more for little action than for a lot.'&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'Aquli said, after mentioning Ibn 'Abdus Salam's
preceding comment,&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'It is possible that what is meant by remembrance
of Allah, the Exalted is persistence upon it, internally and externally.
In that case, it involves expending ones entire life therein, and there
is no doubt that dhikr, if it is [performed] in this manner, it is greater
in reward than spending [in charity] money which will become depleted,
and [better, also, than] Jihad with which one will finish in a short time...'</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">[Ibn Hajar says,] in Fath al-Baaree,&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'Reconciling [all relevant evidence] leads
one to take this hadeeth and its like, which indicate that dhikr is superior
to all other deeds, as referring to perfect dhikr, which is that which
combines the remembrance of the tongue with the heart and [with] pondering
over the meaning and bringing to mind the greatness of Allah, the Exalted.
So, the person who achieves this is better than the mujaahid who fights
the disbelievers without having this [level of remembrance]. The excellence
of Jihad [over dhikr] is with regard to dhikr by the tongue only. So, he
who combines all of these, such that he remembers Allah with his heart
and his tongue, and brings to mind His greatness in every situation, and
[also] fights the disbelievers, for example, is the one who has reached
the highest limit. And the knowledge is with Allah.'&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">And, [it is reported] in "Fath al-Ilah",</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">'It is possible to reconcile [this hadeeth
with other evidences] by taking the excellence here as being from one aspect,
which is that the heart is conquered by the requisite dhikr which repels
Shaytaan from the arena of the heart. By the purity and reform [of the
heart], the [entire] body is purified and reformed. So, dhikr, on account
of its effect therein - [an effect] which is not produced by spending [in
charity] and exertion of the self, is better than these two in this aspect,
even though they are superior to it from all other aspects...&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">And the saying of Ibn 'Abdus Salam in his "Qawa'id"
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000">(i.e. that which was mentioned above)</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000099">
is based on taking the hadeeth literally, without regard to the necessary
discussion of the Imams of the school.'"</FONT></I>"<I><FONT SIZE=-1> [Daleel
al-Faaliheen, vol. IV, p. 246]&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P>So, we see that the scholars have interpreted the dhikr mentioned in
this hadeeth as being <I>perfect</I> dhikr in which one's heart ponders
over the meaning. Moreover, they affirmed that even this dhikr is superior
to Jihad only from the aspect of constancy, and that Jihad is superior
from every other aspect. Also, this dhikr is pursued not for its own sake,
but rather to reform the entire body. It should be quite clear then that
this hadeeth does not detract from the importance nor the excellence of
Jihad.&nbsp;

<P>One who isolates himself to perform dhikr, and continues to do so without
ever even thinking of going to fight to protect his suffering brothers
and his sisters who are being raped, or to spend his wealth to aid them,
is obviously not performing the desired dhikr, although he may be reciting
the Qur'an, day and night, continuously. It is reported in the hadeeth,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><FONT COLOR="#990000">It may be that one is reciting the Qur'an
while the Qur'an is cursing him.</FONT></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>


<P>Moreover, it should be noted that performing Jihad does not <I>preclude</I>
making dhikr. Allah, the <I>Exalted</I>, says, <I><FONT SIZE=-1>(Translation
of the Meaning)</FONT></I>,&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER>"<B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">O you who believe! When you encounter
an army, then remain steadfast, and&nbsp;</FONT></I></B></CENTER>

<CENTER><B><I><FONT COLOR="#990000">remember Allah much in order that you
may succeed.</FONT></I></B>"&nbsp;</CENTER>

<CENTER><I><FONT SIZE=-1>[8:45]&nbsp;</FONT></I></CENTER>


<P>Someone who wishes to perfect his dhikr must perform it as ordered to
by Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala)</FONT></I> and His Prophet
<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu 'alayhee wa sallam)</FONT></I>, and
he who never fights in Jihad is deprived of a portion of dhikr, i.e. that
during battle. Ibn Katheer reports, in his tafseer (exegesis) of this verse,&nbsp;

<P>"<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">On the authority of Ka'b al Ahbar:&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P><I><FONT COLOR="#000099">There is not anything more beloved to Allah
(Ta'aala) than recitation of the Qur'an and dhikr, and were it not for
the two of them, He would not have ordered people to pray and fight. Do
you not see that He has ordered people to make dhikr during combat?</FONT></I>"
<I><FONT SIZE=-1>[Tafseer ibn Katheer, vol. II, p. 103]&nbsp;</FONT></I>&nbsp;

<P>Without a doubt, none can attain the status of one who goes out for
Jihad with a pure intention, and fights while being conscious of Allah
<I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala) </FONT></I>and remembering Him. To make
one's intention <I>solely</I> for the sake of Allah <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(Ta'aala)
</FONT></I>can be difficult, and thus the Prophet <I><FONT COLOR="#000099">(salallaahu
'alayhee wa sallam) </FONT></I>mentions, in the hadeeth of the likeness
of the <I>mujaahid</I>, that Allah knows best as to who is really performing
Jihad. Nevertheless, when Jihad is individually <I>obligatory</I> (i.e.
<I>Fard 'ayn</I>), one <I>must</I> do it, even if one feels some degree
of insincerity in one's intention, for in this case it is just like salaah
and other obligations. One must perform them, while at the same time striving
to purify one's intention.&nbsp;

<P>It is indeed sad that one finds Muslims who try to diminish the importance
of Jihad and who downplay its excellence, in a time when Muslims are being
oppressed in so many parts of the world, to the extent that Jihad has become
individually obligatory (<I>Fard 'ayn</I>) by the consensus of those whose
opinion is of <A HREF="File142.htm">any value</A>...&nbsp;

<P>Others will agree that Jihad is good and essential, only to turn around
and insist that fighting the desires of the self is "<I>the Greater Jihad</I>".
[And, this issue is addressed extensively in an article at the following
address:&nbsp;&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
<CENTER><B><A HREF="File20.htm">http://members.tripod.com/~Suhayb/Jihad-Slandered.html</A>&nbsp;</B></CENTER>


<P><B><I>O Allah!&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;

<P><B><I>Do not make our misfortune in our Religion!&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;

<P><B><I>O Allah!&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;

<P><B><I>Do not make the world our greatest concern, nor the extent of
our knowledge, nor the limit of our deeds!&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;

<P><B><I>O Allah!&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;

<P><B><I>Do not establish in domination over us those who do not fear You
with regard to us, and who will have no mercy on us!&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;

<P><B><I>O Allah!&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;

<P><B><I>Grant blessings and peace upon our master, Muhammad, and upon
all his Household and Companions.&nbsp;</I></B>&nbsp;
<CENTER>&nbsp;</CENTER>
&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE></CENTER>
<B><I><FONT COLOR="#000066">&nbsp;- By Abu Shaheed</FONT></I></B>

<P><B><I><FONT SIZE=-1>- Formatted and Edited by Abu Suhayb</FONT></I></B>
<BR>&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;
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<CENTER>
    <B><A HREF="index.htm">Back to Contents: Jihad</A></B>
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